Macclesfield’s history‑making FA Cup run gets its biggest test yet on Monday night as sixth‑tier opposition welcome European‑chasing Brentford to a sold‑out Leasing.com Stadium, in a tie that perfectly captures the competition’s old romance. With Macclesfield on a surge at home and Brentford arriving in strong form and used to goal‑heavy games, this points towards a match the Premier League side should control, but one that carries a genuine platform for goals and another competitive showing from the underdogs.
Macclesfield, promoted to National League North in 2025, became the first sixth‑tier team ever to knock out a reigning Premier League champion when they beat FA Cup holders Crystal Palace 2-1 in the third round, the first time a non‑league side had eliminated the holders since 1909. That upset has seen the FA Cup trophy itself visit the club this week, underlining how extraordinary this run already is for a modern non‑league side.
Brentford, by contrast, are chasing a European place from the top half of the Premier League and have lost just two of their last 11 games in all competitions, a run that has them entering this tie with confidence and serious ambitions of a deep Cup run. The Bees also have history for being ruthless against lower‑league opposition, as Macclesfield’s previewers note by recalling the 5-0 demolition of Grimsby after the Mariners had themselves knocked Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup.
On paper, there are several divisions between these clubs, but Macclesfield’s recent form at home is a major part of the story. Since their shock win over Palace, they have turned the Leasing.com Stadium into something of a fortress, winning all four home games played there in all competitions. A home draw against Brentford is the direct reward for that Palace upset, and that the club has built belief from climbing rapidly through the pyramid with three promotions in four seasons and a title in the Northern Premier League Premier Division in 2025.
Brentford’s numbers come from a very different world. The Premier League outfit have an xG average of 1.27 per match (1.36 at home, 1.18 away) and xG against at 1.49 (1.41 at home, 1.57 away), a profile that describes a side that creates well but concedes more than a typical top‑half defence. 61% of Brentford’s league matches finished over 2.5 goals (23 of 38), above a Premier League average of 57%, underlining their tendency to be involved in high‑event games.
Form-wise, Brentford are in a good place, losing only two of their last 11 in all competitions and that their energy and intensity could be decisive against non‑league opposition, particularly if a strong front line is selected. Their recent Cup history adds weight, with their 5-0 win over Grimsby evidence that they don't take lower league opposition lightly.
Macclesfield 0-3 Brentford
National League N / S - North 
Premier League 
